General Comments on Ecotourism Development in Ninh Thuan Province

State management of Ninh Binh tourism in recent years has made great efforts, creating favorable conditions for eco-tourism development and contributing significantly to the development of Ninh Binh tourism.

Results achieved:

- The Master Plan for Ninh Binh tourism development to 2010 has been developed and is being adjusted to ensure suitability for development to 2020.

- The Tourism Industry has advised the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and Provincial People's Committee to issue decisions, directives, and resolutions in accordance with the development requirements of the Tourism industry in general and eco-tourism in particular.

- Coordinated with relevant departments such as: Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Department of Science, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Planning and Investment to research strategies for planning, investing and developing tourism in a sustainable direction.

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- Establishing the State Steering Committee for tourism development in Ninh Binh province is a new step forward. This is the highest specialized committee of the province, including many related agencies to orient and manage the general tourism development strategies of the province.

- The direction and operation of tourism activities is unified from the province to the district and localities with tourist attractions.

- Tourism resources have been managed more strictly and scientifically to ensure sustainable tourism development.

- Investment management and construction of tourist attractions are carried out more scientifically and carefully to limit the destruction of the environmental landscape.

These positive activities create favorable conditions for tourism development and contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of Ninh Binh.

Limitations and shortcomings in state management of tourism:

- The problem of managing investment in infrastructure construction and tourism service facilities in tourist areas in reality still has many shortcomings. The rampant private construction of restaurants, motels, and souvenir shops causes chaos and destroys the landscape and common environment of tourist areas, especially areas such as Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Van Long, etc.

- In tourist areas, local people exploit stones, especially stalactites in caves to sell ornamental stones, cut down trees for firewood and collect ornamental plants, which still happens frequently.

- Security and order in tourist areas are still not guaranteed, there are still phenomena of theft from tourists, following tourists to sell incense and souvenirs, causing discomfort to tourists.

- Has not yet built a mechanism and strategy to develop tourism products, especially eco-tourism products in Ninh Binh.

- There is no specialized unit in charge of developing eco-tourism and has a strategy to develop it sustainably.

- There is no strategy to train the workforce serving eco-tourism, especially the team of travel agents and tour guides.

- Has not yet built a strategy to promote and advertise eco-tourism in Ninh Binh.

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Thus, for Ninh Binh's tourism to develop in the coming time, it is necessary to carry out improvements.

State management of tourism needs special attention so that Ninh Binh's eco-tourism can develop according to its inherent potential.

* Promotion and market development activities:

Recognizing the importance of propaganda, promotion and development of the eco-tourism market in recent times, the Department of Tourism and tourism businesses have been actively carrying out. Information about the potential and natural tourist attractions of Ninh Binh has been carried out in many different forms of promotion. This is a positive activity to develop eco-tourism. Almost all tourists visiting Ninh Binh, when asked for their opinions, answered that they have known or heard about famous tourist attractions of Ninh Binh such as: Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Hoa Lu ancient capital, Cuc Phuong national park... and some other tourist attractions. Thus, the work of promoting and promoting eco-tourism has been paid attention to and has brought certain results, this is a great effort of eco-tourism businesses in Ninh Binh.

In recent times, with the joint efforts of the whole industry, Ninh Binh tourism has built CD ROOMs to introduce resources and eco-tourism in Ninh Binh such as: "Visiting

Gia Vien - Hoa Lu - Trang An mountains and rivers "; "A Ninh Binh mountain and river area" ; "Building Hoa Lu tourist city" ; coordinating with the VTV4 External Propaganda Department - Vietnam Television to produce the film "Ninh Binh tourism awakens its potential" . Cooperating with The Gioi Publishing House to build an electronic tourism model using 3D technology with many interface layers, combined with traditional CD ROOM advertising; large advertising panels on National Highway 1A through Ninh Binh, leaflets, brochures and songs about Ninh Binh composed by famous musicians... Cooperating with Vietnam Television to produce many films: "Trang An mountains and rivers - Ninh Binh" , "Ninh Binh mountains and rivers", "Ninh Van stone village", "Visiting Gia Vien, Ninh Binh" some films about Ninh Binh tourism have been introduced many times on Ninh Binh television, Vietnam television and VTV4 channel of Vietnam Television; publish and circulate the book “Non nuoc Ninh Binh” in Vietnamese and English. Create 10 presentations at famous tourist attractions in Ninh Binh, translate into English and French as documents to serve propaganda and promotion work and facilitate tourist guidance.

Ninh Binh Department of Tourism has established the "Tourism Development Promotion Center" . With the establishment of this center, Ninh Binh Tourism has a specialized agency in charge of promoting and developing the market. Initially, the images and products of Ninh Binh tourism have reached domestic and foreign tourists. Parallel to this activity is the research and development of a plan to stabilize the organizational model of the tourism investment promotion apparatus until 2010. The Ninh Binh Tourism Information website has been established since 2001 ( www.ninhbinhtuorism.com.vn ),. The NB Tourism Information magazine is published every 6 months, providing information on activities and tourism products in Ninh Binh. Websites of other sectors such as the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Trade... also introduce Ninh Binh Tourism as an invitation, an attractive advantage for domestic and foreign investors.

In addition, there are many books, newspapers, publications, and handbooks published by the General Department of Tourism, the NB tourism industry, and authors. Some tourism businesses have developed ecotourism programs and published brochures and leaflets for tourists such as: Cuc Phuong National Park tour program; Cuc Phuong mineral bath in Ky Phu - Nho Quan; Tam Coc - Bich Dong - Trang An tour program... tour of the conservation area

Van Long wetland ecological conservation; program to visit Phat Diem stone church and Con Thoi coastal area...

However, this is still quite "little" and simple, as commented in the project "Nha Trang Tourism Development Program 2001-2005" of Ninh Binh Department of Tourism: Propaganda and promotion work is done a lot but not fundamentally, still patchy, so it has not attracted many domestic and international tourists. Education for the community about tourism, especially people in tourist spots and areas, is still very limited, only thinking about immediate, local benefits without thinking about long-term, global benefits [41].

Since the end of 2002, Ninh Binh tourism industry has gradually promoted the propaganda and promotion of ecotourism and called on domestic and foreign units to invest in natural tourist areas. Initial results have been positive.

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2.2.3. General comments on ecotourism development in Ninh Thuan province

Through research on the current situation of tourism in Ninh Binh province, it can be seen that

Ninh Binh ecotourism is proving its attraction to investors in the tourism sector. Ninh Binh has quite favorable conditions and potentials for tourism development in general and ecotourism in particular. This is reflected in the value of relatively pristine natural resources, rich ecosystems, high biodiversity, unpolluted environment, abundant, hard-working and diligent local labor. Transportation is easy, information is fast. The value of human resources makes ecotourism products more diverse and rich by the combination of ecotourism and cultural tourism. Through studying the current status of ecotourism in Ninh Binh, the author makes the following comments:

Firstly, in Ninh Binh there is no complete eco-tourism product according to the concept of eco-tourism and its product components. People call it an eco-tourism product because in each type of service, tourism goods here have some appearance and some aspects of eco-tourism.

Second, DLST has only stopped at the names according to the emotional perception of business people and on the documents, planning reports of the State management agency on tourism in Ninh Binh.

Third, the current planning and investment in tourism in Ninh Binh is not appropriate when the majority of tourists coming to Ninh Binh's tourist destinations rarely or do not consume accommodation services. Meanwhile, most of the investment projects are aimed at building hotels, motels and restaurants. On the other hand, this investment in eco-tourism areas, typically right at Van Long tourist area, the investor has built a restaurant area with bold Hue architecture. Or the investor in Trang An cave complex is not suitable for the principles and goals of this type of tourism, not meeting the high sensitivity of the environment in terms of both exploitation activities and technical infrastructure systems. The planning and investment projects in Ninh Binh all talk about eco-tourism, but people do not really understand eco-tourism and the elements that make up eco-tourism products. In my opinion, the projects being implemented today are actually projects based on traditional mass tourism, nature-oriented tourism, not eco-tourism according to the true nature of eco-tourism and the requirements for the products of this type of tourism.

Fourth, with the potential values of tourism resources, Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Nature Reserve stand out as potential investment areas for planning to become typical ecotourism areas of Ninh Binh, along with types of services and goods corresponding to this type of tourism;

Fifth, there is no distinction between ecotourism products and other types of products. Even the Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist area is considered an ecotourism area by the tourism industry, but in fact the products here are general tourism products serving mass tourists.

* Results achieved:

In recent years, Ninh Binh tourism industry, including ecotourism, has contributed significantly to the province's GDP, thereby contributing significantly to changing the economic structure, industry structure and participating in solving social problems. The development of ecotourism in Ninh Binh in recent times has brought about the following results:

- Along with the flourishing development of ecotourism in recent times, the technical infrastructure has been improved: The transportation system to tourist areas has been focused on investment and upgrading, making transportation not only serve tourism but also serve other people's needs, making the lives of people in localities change a lot.

Convenient transportation thereby enhances exchange and communication, locally produced goods are more easily consumed.

- Since tourism has been invested in, localities with resources have created jobs for a large number of people in the tourism and service industries and have stable incomes.

- Resources are nurtured, the environment is protected, forest areas are preserved and replanted, hunting of birds and animals has decreased, people no longer fish destructively (electric shock).

- The lives of local residents in places with developed eco-tourism have been significantly improved. Villages with developed tourism have had their roads upgraded, renovated, and renewed, along with enhanced water supply and drainage systems.

- Awareness of protecting resources and the ecological environment has been raised, people no longer litter indiscriminately, and craft villages regularly organize public cleaning sessions.

* Existing:

- There is no specialized agency in the field of eco-tourism, so there has not been a strategy developed for this type of tourism to develop sustainably in the future.

- Not yet diversified the types of services as well as the content of Ninh Thuan's tourism activities.

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- Awareness of tourism development managers and policy makers about tourism

Ecotourism is not really deep and clear, people think that bringing tourists to wild or relatively wild natural areas is ecotourism. And also do not really understand the socio-economic efficiency of this type.

- The planning and management of construction investment in the province's eco-tourism sites are not really strict, leading to some places still allowing spontaneous construction investment, destroying the environmental landscape and negatively affecting the ecological environment.

2.3. ANALYSIS OF ECOTOURISM IN NINH BINH PROVINCE ACCORDING TO SWOT MODEL

* Strengths:

- Characteristic natural landscape, relatively diverse and rich ecosystem, natural landscape includes limestone mountains, Van Long wetland, national park

Cuc Phuong is famous for its rich and diverse flora and fauna. There are 1000-year-old teak trees and many famous caves such as Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Dich Long, Tien Cave, and Hoa Son Cave.

- Besides the natural landscape, this land was once the capital of Dai Co Viet from 968 to 1010. Therefore, this land has many historical and cultural relics such as King Dinh Temple, King Le Temple, Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda, Phat Diem Stone Church, and many unique festivals. All these landscapes and historical relics have become very attractive tourist destinations for domestic and foreign tourists. Ninh Binh is only about 100 km from Hanoi, which is very convenient for international visitors from Hanoi to Ninh Binh.

- The population structure is young, nearly 50% of the population is of working age, an abundant labor source, the local people are friendly and hospitable.

- Stable political system, guaranteed security and order.

* Weaknesses:

- Participants do not have the correct awareness of ecotourism. There are no real ecotourism products. The capacity and management level of Ninh Binh tourism has not caught up with the development trend of the tourism industry.

- There is no support from non-governmental organizations in developing eco-tourism.

- Lack of attractive ecotourism programs. Ecotourism resources and festival culture in Ninh Binh are rich and diverse but have not been developed into attractive tourism products, there are still many tourism resources that have not been exploited such as Dong Chuong Lake, Yen Dong Lake.

- Ma Tien Cave, or Trang An cave area.

- There are no real accommodation services for ecotourism. Currently, the whole province has more than 70 accommodation establishments classified as hotels and motels with 959 rooms, of which 30 motels and hotels have been assessed, including 5 2-star hotels, 1 1-star hotel and 15 hotels and motels that meet the minimum standards with 456 rooms.

- Lack of comprehensive management and close coordination in accordance with the principles and requirements of eco-tourism development.

- The labor force in the tourism industry lacks knowledge, professionalism, cultural behavior and low foreign language proficiency due to lack of formal training. Lack of ecotourism tour guides.

- Souvenirs are still monotonous, not creating an impression on tourists, lacking typical products of Ninh Binh homeland.

- Activities to raise awareness of local communities about ecotourism have not received much attention; people and even tourism businesses do not really understand ecotourism deeply.

- Some tourists coming to Ninh Binh are considered eco-tourists but in fact they are not true eco-tourists.

* Opportunity:

- Vietnam tourism is developing rapidly and becoming a safe and friendly destination, international visitors to Vietnam are increasing. Ninh Binh is near Hanoi so it is very convenient in attracting visitors. Vietnam's economy is growing quite well, people's lives are improving, the demand for travel is increasing.

- The long-term development plan of VNAT (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) until 2010 is to prioritize the development of eco-tourism combined with festival culture.

- Ninh Binh tourism is prioritized for development by the Government, VNAT and local authorities to soon become a key economic sector of the province.

* Challenge:

- On the one hand, we want to attract as many visitors and investment capital as possible to Ninh Binh to achieve high profits and improve the province's economic structure with specific figures of the tourism industry. On the other hand, in the documents and resolutions on tourism development of the province, everywhere we talk about developing eco-tourism products, while eco-tourism prioritizes environmental protection and festival culture.

- Security, order and environmental sanitation in some tourist areas still have many inappropriate issues and are contrary to the requirements of eco-tourism development.

- There are many competitors such as tourist areas, tourist attractions in famous national parks, and national nature reserves.

- The quality of restaurant, hotel, shopping and entertainment activities is still low, so it cannot keep customers staying in Ninh Binh for a long time, so tourism revenue is not high.

- Investment in technical infrastructure has just begun. Access to many tourist destinations is still facing many difficulties. Exploitation of tourism resources is still